Negative is positive at Madrid
COURTOIS AND VALVERDE CLEAR TO PLAY By
REAL MADRID pair Thibaut Courtois and Fede Valverde are set to face Getafe today.
Both players had tested positive for Covid but have since returned negative results and are expected to be available for the La Liga leaders.
The availability of Belgium keeper Courtois and midfielder Valverde provides a major boost for Carlo Ancelotti with Vinicius ruled out after a positive test.
And Real boss Ancelotti has been hailed by defender Eder Militao, who credits the ex-everton boss for his rise this summer.
The Brazilian has formed a key part of Real Madrid‘s
impressive defence this year, playing alongside David Alaba at the heart of Ancelotti’s back-line.
Militao did a fine job last season when covering for Sergio Ramos. And he has gone from strength to strength since Rafael Varane followed Ramos out of the club last summer.
He said: “Ancelotti has been very important for me, he has given me the confidence every player needs. I’m living a dream.
“I try to follow, learning each day. I have great moments ahead for Real Madrid and Brazil.”
Real Madrid are on a run of 10 wins from 11 games to establish a dominant eightpoint lead at the top.
Ancelotti (right) admits the club’s young guns have played a huge role in becoming runaway leaders and he said: “The first obligation at Real Madrid is to win.
“But the progression of the young players is another objective. There are many players from the reserve team who are appearing in the first team.
“They are the future and, little by little, we will have to put them in.
This is clear.
“Now, with the pandemic, opportunities are being provided for them.
“The important thing is that those who are joining the team do so with the ability to compete.”
Getafe are managed by ex-watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores and he said: “Real Madrid have been good all season and have the best youngsters of the league, with several young players who are already starters and working well.
“As a club, they always have my respect. But for this game, we’re just thinking about our own players.”